Fuelled by natural gas sourced from the on-shore and off-shore gas fields of Taranaki, the combined cycle gas turbine was to achieve 56 per cent efficiency. The combined cycle gas turbine plant utilised cutting-edge technology, and recycled what would otherwise be waste heat to generate further electricity using a steam turbine.

Aurecon carried out the enabling works for the site preparation and the interconnection services from the existing Huntly Power Station to be supplied to the new power plant.

Huntly e3p was the largest new power station to be built in New Zealand since 1999 and it is expected to assist in meeting the annual growth in national demand for electricity. Commercial Operation was achieved in July 2007. The power station met its performance guarantees and is operating with a very high reliability.

Aurecon also designed and project managed the upgrade to the nearby Tainui Bridge and other bridge works modifications along the transport route from the Port of Auckland to site. This was to accommodate the delivery of heavy equipment to the site, the heaviest load being the gas turbine weighing approximately 370 tonnes.

The project was announced Winner at the 2010 Pace (Process and Control Engineering) Zenith Awards for Power and Engineering Management.